Dan Morgan made some drastic and necessary changes to the Carolina Panthers roster during his first offseason as general manager.
It wasn't an easy situation given the financial constraints and the fact he didn't have the No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft to utilize. Even so, the front-office leader handled himself well in difficult circumstances to stabilize this perennial struggler.
This is the first stage of Morgan's long-term plans to get the Panthers back to respectability and into contention. It's not been great in terms of on-field results. However, the moves made in free agency and the draft are slowly starting to bear fruit.
Carolina showed some signs of life before the bye, but there is still a lot of hard work ahead before this team becomes consistently competitive. Morgan also has some big decisions upcoming regarding current personnel and how best to take the franchise forward in Year 2 of his tenure.
With this in mind, here are five Panthers players who look like certified cut candidates in 2025 based on how things have unfolded so far this season.
Carolina Panthers 2025 cut candidates at the bye week
Yosh Nijman - Carolina Panthers OT
- 2025 cap savings: $3.67 million
- 2025 dead money: $1.41 million
Dan Morgan's investments in the offensive line have paid off. This critical area of the field went from a weak link to a dominant unit quickly. Even when injuries inevitably struck, there was enough depth to compensate within improved blocking concepts implemented by Dave Canales and Joe Gilbert.
Yosh Nijman arrived this offseason and was expected to be the versatile swing tackle upgrade. His time on the field deputizing for stud right tackle Taylor Moton wasn't great. When left tackle Ikem Ekwonu went out through injury, the coaching staff opted to put Brady Christensen on the blindside and Cade Mays at the center position.
While the shuffle reaped instant rewards, it was a damning indictment of Nijman's credentials and whether he'll be around beyond the season. Nothing can be ruled out, especially with Christensen, Mays, and Austin Corbett all out of contract, but the Panthers could probably find a better option for cheaper when push comes to shove.
Nijman's early release comes with more than $3 million in savings attached. Considering how money could be tight, this is something those in power will discuss when the time comes next spring.
Miles Sanders - Carolina Panthers RB
- 2025 cap savings: $5.22 million
- 2025 dead money: $2.95 million
Miles Sanders has gone from a big-name signing tabbed as Christian McCaffrey's replacement to an afterthought relatively quickly. Things just haven't clicked for the running back. The Carolina Panthers had high hopes after his Pro Bowl campaign in 2022. It was one of many terrible acquisitions by previous general manager Scott Fitterer.
Sanders lost his starting role quickly to Chuba Hubbard and never got it back. The former second-round selection lacks explosiveness or any real confidence after a torrid 18 months in Carolina. With Jonathon Brooks set to make his long-awaited debut against the Kansas City Chiefs after the bye, his involvement could decrease further.
This is a sad tale for Sanders. But when it's all said and done, the performance levels haven't been good enough.
The way his contract was structured made cutting him after one season almost impossible. That won't be the case next spring.
The Panthers would save $5.22 million by releasing Sanders with one year remaining on his deal. That seems like a no-brainer given his lack of consistency and the strength in depth within the running back room.
Jadeveon Clowney - Carolina Panthers OLB
- 2025 cap savings: $8 million
- 2025 dead money: $6 million
Jadeveon Clowney's arrival this offseason came with great fanfare. The Panthers worked hard to convince the edge rusher to join their ambitious project. They sold playing closer to home and gave him a two-year deal to further sweeten the pot.
Clowney instantly became the team's most accomplished edge performer with D.J. Wonnum on the shelf. Unfortunately for the former No. 1 overall selection out of South Carolina, the Panthers' supporting cast just isn't up to the required standard.
This put the onus almost squarely on Clowney's shoulders while those in power tried to find the right formula opposite him. It's been a difficult task, so it'll be interesting to see if things improve now that Wonnum is back in the lineup.
One sack through 10 weeks isn't what the Panthers had in mind regardless of whether Clowney is the focus of opposing protection schemes or not. If his inability to generate pressure consistently continues despite having a better partner at the 3-4 outside linebacker spot, a situation could emerge where Carolina cuts its losses and finds a better way to spend the $8 million in salary-cap savings.
Dane Jackson - Carolina Panthers CB
- 2025 cap savings: $3.35 million
- 2025 dead money: $2.5 million
Dan Morgan wasted no time in signing Dane Jackson when free agency began. This was a player the respected evaluator recommended during his time in the Buffalo Bills front office before the AFC team spent a seventh-round selection on the cornerback. It came as no surprise to see him target him as the Carolina Panthers' primary shot-caller.
Jackson's gotten off to a rough start. A serious hamstring injury over the summer came at the worst possible time. He managed to work his way back gradually, logging three games and 48 percent of the team's defensive snaps during those contests.
There's been obvious rust attached to Jackson performance-wise. He's giving up 85.7 percent of his targets and a 120.8 passer rating when targeted. It's a small sample size, but the need for improvements is evident if the player wants to avoid questions about his future beyond 2024.
Morgan might have close ties to Jackson, but he's running the Panthers with professionalism and a business-first mindset with no emotional attachment whatsoever. Unless the defense back enhances his consistency alongside Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson Sr. in the secondary, his time with the organization might be short-lived.
D.J. Wonnum - Carolina Panthers OLB
- 2025 cap savings: $6.67 million
- 2025 dead money: $1.72 million
D.J. Wonnum took a long time to get back. A torn quad and blood clots meant his rehabilitation took much longer than the coaching staff originally anticipated. This was a bitter blow made worse given the Panthers' lack of legitimate edge-rushing options.
Wonnum returned in Week 10 against the New York Giants and caught the eye. He was eager to make up for lost time, gaining two sacks and looking like a real asset against the run for good measure. Hopefully, this is the start of a strong end to the campaign for the veteran free-agent signing.
The Panthers will be relying on Wonnum heavily down the stretch. How the player performs and whether he can stay healthy is going to have big repercussions before the 2025 offseason.
Carolina should use Wonnum's final seven games as an audition of sorts. If the former Michigan State star continues his outstanding efforts versus much better opposition, general manager Dan Morgan can feel confident about giving him another year despite the salary-cap hit increase.
Brandt Tilis hedged his bets with Wonnum's contract. The Panthers have a genuine out on his deal if further stumbling blocks arrive. What comes next is down to him.